KOP A LOAD OF THAT JURGEN
United major players in title race as Anfield trip looms
OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER may not admit it publicly but Manchester United are now firmly in this season’s title race.
Victory here took them level on points with Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool and stretched Solskjaer’s side’s unbeaten run in the league to 10 games.
Suddenly United’s trip to Anfield on January 17 has assumed huge significance, the first time in more than a decade that English football’s two biggest clubs are tussling for the title.
Solskjaer said: “We have improved, we are getting better, and the league and season will be so tight.
“Every time you win a game you take one step further.”
The United boss, however, still had words of warning for his team.
He said: “Eric Bailly has made a fantastic block at the end but we should have seen the game out in a better way.
“We need to learn what to do when we have the lead.”
The first chance of the game went the way of United after 10 minutes. Fred intercepted the ball and set Bruno Fernandes scampering through the middle.
Fernandes, in turn, found Anthony Martial, who cut inside on to his right foot to unleash a shot Villa keeper Emiliano Martinez was equal to, turning it behind.
It was United who looked the likel iest to score, Solskjaer’s side playing with purpose and enterprise, always looking to get in behind Villa’s defence.
They came close to opening the scoring in the 15th minute when Fred shot just over after a clever ball inside from Aaron
Wan-Bissaka was dummied by Paul Pogba.
United continued to cause Villa problems, Fred, Pogba and Martial indulging in an exquisite one-touch move just before the half-hour only for it to break down when the ball went behind for a corner.
But the goal duly came five minutes before the break,
Pogba winning the ball in midfield and clipping it to Marcus Rashford, who sent Wan-Bissaka surging down the right.
He picked out Martial, whose clever run across the six-yard box and brave header yielded the goal United’s play deserved.
Villa emerged for the second half full of intent and it was no surprise when they levelled in the 58th minute.
Wan-Bissaka failed to track Jack Grealish, who crossed for Bertrand Traore to score at the far post.
The Reds paid the price for switching off but restored the lead three minutes later when Douglas Luiz was ruled to have fouled Pogba in the box.
A VAR check concluded ref Michael Oliver made the right call and Fernandes stepped up to convert the spot-kick for his 15th goal of the season.
Martial came close to making it 3-1 with 20 minutes left but his angled shot was palmed away by Martinez.
Villa boss Dean Smith was having none of VAR.
He said: “In the first half we were miles off it and it was unlike us. We can’t have performances like that first 45 minutes but at the penalty Pogba has tripped himself up.”